Arizona is participating in ongoing wildfire suppression efforts in Colorado and New Mexico. The Arizona State Forestry Division is playing an active role in fighting the fires which has already killed two Coloradans.
As of Friday, June 14, Arizona has dispatched eight pieces of fire equipment to Colorado – including four wildland engines and four water tenders. All contributions – with the exception of one privately-contracted water tender – have been provided by Arizona fire departments. The equipment has been sent in response to three fast-growing fires which, to date, have burned more than 19,000 acres. According to the National Interagency Fire Coordination Center, the nearly 16,000-acre Black Forest Fire near Colorado Springs has destroyed 360 homes and 24 outbuildings.
Arizona also is supporting New Mexico as it continues to battle five large fires, burning more than 56,000 acres. The state currently has seven pieces of fire equipment assigned to New Mexico – including five engines, one water tender and one structure protection trailer. We also have sent 54 incident management team personnel to assist in the containment of the fires. All resources have been provided by the Arizona State Forestry Division, Arizona fire departments and private contractors.
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“I am pleased we can help support our neighboring States with these available resources for their catastrophic wildfires, as they often reciprocate to Arizona in our time of need,” said Scott Hunt, Arizona State Forester. “Since Arizona is also in the midst of its fire season, the State Forestry Division is still maintaining extra firefighting capacity for in-state response.”